- Toyota’s Current Engine Development Plan
- The Return of Toyota’s V8 in Motorsport
- The New Supercar and the Hybrid V8 Rumors
- The Hydrogen V8 Project
- The Market Reality in the UAE
Questions are growing across the UAE and the GCC about whether ToyotaBahrain ToyotaEgypt ToyotaKSA ToyotaKuwait ToyotaOman ToyotaQatar ToyotaUAE Toyota is truly preparing to bring back its 8 cylinder engines for civilian vehicles after years of relying on 6 cylinder turbo and hybrid systems. Although the Japanese automaker has not made any official announcement confirming the development of a new V8 for production cars, three main factors continue to fuel the discussion: the ongoing use of V8 engines in motorsports, rumors about an upcoming Toyota supercar, and research projects focused on hydrogen powered V8 engines. Below is the full picture so far.
Toyota’s Current Engine Development Plan
Toyota is steadily moving toward integrating electrification technologies across its entire lineup, focusing on smaller, more efficient engines.
Here are the key points officially confirmed by the company:
In May 2024, Toyota announced a collaboration with SubaruUAE SubaruBahrain SubaruKSA SubaruKuwait SubaruQatar SubaruOman Subaru and MazdaUAE MazdaKSA MazdaQatar MazdaKuwait MazdaBahrain MazdaEgypt MazdaOman Mazda to develop a new generation of compact internal combustion engines capable of running on carbon neutral fuels.
The plan mainly centers on four cylinder engines, showing that the V8 lineup is not currently a priority for road cars.
This direction is clearly reflected in the UAE market, where the Land Cruiser 300 now comes with a 3.5 liter twin turbo V6 instead of the previous V8, according to Toyota UAE’s 2025 specifications.
This approach aims to enhance thermal efficiency and reduce emissions while utilizing hybrid systems to maintain strong performance suitable for regional driving conditions.
The Return of Toyota’s V8 in Motorsport
Although the V8 engines have disappeared from Toyota’s production cars, they remain a strong presence in the brand’s motorsport programs.
Key highlights include:
In the NASCAR Cup Series, the Toyota CamryBahrain Toyota CamryEgypt Toyota CamryKSA Toyota CamryKuwait Toyota CamryOman Toyota CamryQatar Toyota CamryUAE Toyota Camry XSE competes with a V8 engine displacing 358 cubic inches, as confirmed by both NASCAR and Toyota’s official data for the 2024 model.
In Australia’s Supercars Championship, media outlets have confirmed that the Toyota GR Supra will join the grid in the 2026 season, powered by a 5.2 liter V8 derived from the 2UR-GSE family previously used in Lexus performance models.
These projects are dedicated to competitive racing rather than road production, yet they demonstrate Toyota’s ongoing commitment to developing large displacement engines for high performance applications.
The New Supercar and the Hybrid V8 Rumors
In 2025, Toyota captured attention with a camouflaged prototype showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, followed by an official teaser featuring the sound of a new V8 engine. This fueled speculation about an upcoming hybrid assisted twin turbo V8 supercar.
While no official announcement has been made, credible Japanese and European sources suggest that a full reveal could take place in late 2025, with expectations of exceptional performance figures.
The project reportedly involves a limited production hypercar, not a broad return of V8 engines to Toyota’s civilian lineup.
The upcoming supercar is expected to embody Toyota’s vision of combining extreme performance and sustainable technology through an advanced hybrid powertrain.
The Hydrogen V8 Project
Technical reports indicate that Toyota is working with Yamaha on a research project to develop a hydrogen powered V8 engine with a 5.0 liter capacity based on the 2UR-GSE engine used in Lexus RCUAE Lexus RC F models.
The experimental engine produces around 450 horsepower while maintaining quiet operation and nearly zero emissions.
The goal of this initiative is to explore the potential of clean hydrogen combustion as a sustainable energy source for the future.
This project is not intended for mass production or commercial release at this stage, but rather for studying new fuel alternatives for high performance engines.
The Market Reality in the UAE
For consumers in the UAE, Toyota’s current lineup continues to rely on advanced turbocharged V6 and hybrid systems that offer the perfect balance between power and fuel efficiency.
Some of the standout models in the market include:
Land Cruiser 300 featuring a 3.5 liter twin turbo V6 engine producing 409 horsepower.
Upcoming hybrid versions with improved efficiency and enhanced performance for long distance drives and high temperatures.
As for V8 engines, they remain present mainly in motorsports and limited run supercar projects, with no signs of returning to Toyota’s civilian lineup anytime soon.
Therefore, fans of the iconic V8 sound will continue to experience it on the racetrack rather than in showrooms, as Toyota reinforces its commitment to smart performance and sustainable efficiency for GCC markets.
